Ventilated bolster

ABSTRACT

A bolster for supporting an object. The bolster has a frame. A blower is mounted on the frame and configured to blow air through the bolster. A fabric cover includes air-permeable fabric stretched over and secured to the frame to provide cushiony support for the object. The fabric defines a support surface and a bolster interior and is positioned on the frame such that blown air from the blower flows through the bolster interior and passes through the fabric adjacent the support surface to provide ventilation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/153,319, entitled VENTILATED BOLSTER, which was filed on Apr. 27, 2015, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to ventilated bolsters and more specifically to a fabric-over-frame pillow with fans that direct air through a hollow interior.

BACKGROUND

Bolsters such as pillows and other cushiony supports provide comfortable support surfaces for parts of the human body or other objects. Oftentimes, when bolsters support an object that generates heat, such as a human head or neck, a lack of temperature control can cause uncomfortable overheating of the support surface. Or even without such overheating, it is often desirable to provide localized cooling to the head and neck in warm conditions. Attempts have been made to use ventilation to provide cooling to pillows and other types of bolsters. However, conventional ventilated pillows and bolsters are either overly costly, ineffective, or both. Accordingly, an improved ventilated bolster is desired.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a bolster for supporting an object comprises a frame. A blower is mounted on the frame and configured to blow air through the bolster. A fabric cover comprises air-permeable fabric stretched over and secured to the frame to provide cushiony support for the object. The fabric defines a support surface and a bolster interior and is positioned on the frame such that blown air from the blower flows through the bolster interior and passes through the fabric adjacent the support surface to provide ventilation.

Other aspects and features of the bolster will be apparent and/or pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a ventilated pillow;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the ventilated pillow with a cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the cover removed from the ventilated pillow;

FIG. 4 is another perspective of the ventilated pillow, illustrating a mesh panel of the pillow schematically; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the pillow with a portion of the cover broken away and arrows illustrating an air flow path through the pillow.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a ventilated pillow for supporting the head or neck of a human user is generally indicated at reference number 110. The pillow 110 includes a frame, generally indicated at reference numeral 112. A pair of fans 114 (each, broadly, a “blower”) are mounted on the frame 112 to blow air through the pillow 110. A fabric cover, generally indicated at reference number 116, stretches over the frame to provide a support surface for supporting the head and/or neck of a user. As will be apparent, the stretched fabric 116 provides a cushiony support surface, and the fans 116 blow air through the fabric to cool the fabric and any object supported on the support surface (e.g., the head or neck of a user). It will be understood that, although the illustrated pillow 110 is intended for use as a head or neck support, other types of bolsters and cushiony supports may also be constructed and used as described below without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the frame 112 includes two base frame members 120 and a base plank 121, which form a base of the pillow 110, and two end frame members 122, each of which partially houses a respective one of the fans 114. Each of the base frame members 120 comprises an L-shaped shaft extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis L1 between the fan housings 122. A lower portion of each L-shaped base frame member 120 (which is not shown in FIG. 2 because of the position of the base plank 121) extends substantially parallel to an underlying support surface of the pillow 110 and supports the base plank 121. An upper portion of each base frame member extends transverse to the underlying support surface and defines outer sides of the base. The base plank 121 supports a foam insert 123. When a body portion rests on the pillow 110, the foam insert prevents the body portion from contacting the hard base frame members 120. The base frame members 120 are attached to the fan housings 122 such that the base frame members are spaced apart along a lateral axis L2 of the pillow 110. Each end of each base frame member 120 is received in a mounting fixture 124 of one of the fan housings 122 sized to receive the L-shaped base frame member 120 therein. Preferably, the base frame members 120 are fixed in the mounting fixtures 124 (e.g., using adhesives, mechanical fasteners, friction fits, or the like).

Each fan housing 122 includes an outer air intake grate 130, a generally square fan box 132, and a somewhat arched fabric securement member 134. The fan box 132 includes generally square-shaped side walls 136 that extend along the longitudinal axis L1 between the air intake grate 130 and an air outlet plate 138. The air outlet plate 138 has a large circular opening 140 in substantial alignment with the blade of the fan 114. Each of the base frame member mounting fixtures 124 are mounted on lower corners of the fan box 132. The air intake grate 130 is mounted on an outer end of the fan box 130 and includes a plurality of air inlet openings. In use, each fan 114 draws air through the respective air intake grate 130 and delivers the air through the opening 140 in the air outlet plate 138. The fabric securement member 134 is mounted on an upper portion of the air intake grate 130. In the illustrated embodiment, an outwardly facing surface of the fabric securement member 134 is generally flush with an upper edge of the air intake grate 130. The fabric securement member 134 is generally arch-shaped and extends inward along the longitudinal axis L1 from the respective air intake grate 130. Each fabric securement member 134 includes a pair of side leg portions 142. Lower portions of the side leg portions 142 extend generally along a vertical axis. A top portion 144 of each fabric securement member 134 extends generally along the lateral axis L2 between the two leg portions 142 of the fabric securement member. The top portion 144 of the fabric securement member 134 connects the two leg portions 142.

As shown in FIG. 3 the fabric cover 116 in one embodiment is a composite sheet of fabric. Opposite ends of the cover 116 are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis L1′ of the cover 116, and opposite longitudinal edges are spaced apart along a lateral axis L2′ of the cover. A central sheet of fabric 150 forms a central portion of the fabric cover. An outer sheet of fabric 152 is attached to the central sheet and extends from the edges of the central sheet 150 outward to the ends and longitudinal edges of the fabric cover 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion 150 comprises a porous (e.g., air-permeable) material such as an open mesh, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, of cotton, polyester, synthetic material, or any other suitable fabric type. By comparison, the outer portion 152 of the fabric cover 116 comprises a substantially non-porous (e.g., substantially air-impermeable) fabric material, such as a tightly knit or woven material of any suitable fabric type. In one or more embodiments, the fabric of the outer portion 152 includes a padded backing of, for example, foam or other cushiony material. In certain embodiments, the padded backing has a thickness of from about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches. The padded backing may cushion the hard surfaces of the frame 112. Preferably, at least one of the materials used to form the fabric cover 116 is at least somewhat resiliently stretchable along the longitudinal and lateral axes L1′, L2′ of the fabric covering.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the cover 116 stretches over the frame to form a cushiony support surface for supporting a user's head or neck. In one or more embodiments, longitudinal edge margins 154 of the fabric cover 116 are fixed to the base frame members 120 and the fabric cover is stretched along its lateral axis L2′ therebetween. One of the edge margins 154 is secured to a first one of the base frame members 120 so that the edge margin extends along the entire length of the base frame member from the inner surface of one air intake grate 130 to the inner surface of the other air intake grate. For example, the edge margin 154 may be wrapped underneath and over the lower portion (i.e., the portion parallel to the underlying support surface) of a base member and secured thereto (e.g., using zip ties, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, stitching, or other suitable attachments). With one of the edge margins 154 secured to one of the base frame members 120, the fabric is stretched along its lateral axis L2′ until the other edge margin can be secured (e.g., sewn or otherwise attached) to the previously attached edge margin of the fabric. In this embodiment, the fabric cover 116 preferably stretches around and under the second base frame member 120 before the free end margin 143 is attached to the previously attached end margin. Preferably, the width of the fabric cover 116 between its longitudinal edges ensures the fabric experiences tension in a direction parallel to the lateral axis L2′ when the edge margins 154 are secured to one another and the width of the cover 116 stretches around the frame 112. In an alternative embodiment, one edge margin 154 is attached to the base frame member 120 and the opposite edge margin is attached to the other base frame member, rather than being attached to the previously attached edge margin.

Opposite end margins 156 of the fabric cover 116 are also secured to the end frame members 122. In particular, a portion of each end margin 156 stretches over a respective one of the fabric securement members 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends of the fabric cover 116 stop short of the air intake grates 130 such that no portion of the end margins 156 extends over the vertically oriented outwardly facing surface of the grates. In certain embodiments, the tension in the fabric cover 116 between the longitudinal edges thereof is sufficient to pull the end margins 156 tight against the outwardly facing surface of the fabric securement member 134 and thereby secure the fabric to the fabric securement members. In other embodiments, supplemental attachments (e.g., zip ties, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, etc.) secure the end margins 156 to the fabric securement members to ensure the fabric cover 116 does not slide off the fabric securement members in use. In these embodiments, it may be preferable for the attachments that hold the end margins 156 against the fabric securement members 134 to impart a tension on the fabric cover 116 between the ends thereof (e.g., generally parallel to the longitudinal axis L1′ of the cover). Preferably the fabric cover 116 is stretched against the fabric securement members 134 so that the end margins of 156 engage the top portion 144 and both opposite leg portions of the fabric securement members. The securement members 134 shape a support surface 160 of the fabric to have a top portion that gently curves toward opposite side portions.

When the fabric cover 116 is secured to the frame 112 as shown in FIG. 4, an outward facing surface of the fabric forms the support surface 160 and an inward facing surface of the fabric defines an interior 162 (FIG. 5) of the pillow. In the illustrated embodiment, the central sheet 150 of the fabric cover 116 forms the support surface 160. Preferably, the fabric cover 116 is stretched to a level of tension at which the central sheet 150 of the cover has a cushiony tactile quality. When a head or neck rests against the support surface 160, the fabric deflects inwardly to provide cushiony support. However, the fabric also limits the amount of inward deflection to provide ample support for the head and neck. With the exception of the foam insert 123, the interior 162 of the pillow 110 is substantially hollow in the illustrated embodiment. Other objects such as a power supply or electronic components of the fans 114 may also be stored in the pillow interior without departing from the scope of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the cushiony support of the pillow 110 is provided by the stretched fabric cover 116, rather than stuffing. The foam insert 123 does not provide cushiony support in normal use.

The fans 114 are mounted adjacent the longitudinal ends of the frame 112 to blow air through the interior 162 of the pillow 110 in opposing directions. As shown in FIG. 5, fans 114 direct air through the pillow interior 162 along the air flow path F. Each fan 114 draws air through the intake grate 130 and delivers the air through the opening 140 in the air outlet plate 138 to the pillow interior 162. Initially the air travels through the outer portions of the pillow interior 162 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L1 of the pillow 110. After traveling in opposing directions, the blown air from each fan 114 mixes in a central region of the pillow interior 162. The mixing creates air flow turbulence that causes the blown air to travel in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis L1 of the pillow. Some of the mixed air travels up toward the inward facing surface of the cover 116 in positional alignment with the central fabric sheet 150. The air moves through the pores in the central fabric sheet 150 to ventilate a head or neck supported on the support surface 160. To the extent transversely moving air travels toward the inward facing surface of the cover 116 in positional alignment with the outer fabric sheet 152, the non-porous fabric tends to block the air from permeating the through the outer sheet. Thus, the fabric construction substantially channels the blown air toward the support surface 160 by concentrating the air-permeability of the fabric cover 116 at the central sheet 150.

In use, a user positions the pillow 110 on an underlying support surface. The bottom edges of the air intake grates 130 support the pillow so that the support surface 160 faces upward. A user activates a switch 172 that is operative to power on both fans 114. Air flows through the pillow interior 162 and further through the central sheet 150 of the fabric cover 116 to ventilate the support surface 160. A user rests his or her head or neck on the support surface 160, and the air moving through the central sheet 150 provides cooling to the head or neck. The user can actuate the switch 170 to switch off the fans 114 if cooling is no longer desired.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bolster for supporting an object comprising: a frame; a blower mounted on the frame and configured to blow air through the bolster; and a fabric cover comprising air-permeable fabric stretched over and secured to the frame to provide cushiony support for the object, the fabric defining a support surface and a bolster interior and being positioned on the frame such that blown air from the blower flows through the bolster interior and passes through the fabric adjacent the support surface to provide ventilation.
 2. A bolster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a base and first and second end frame members secured to the base adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of the bolster.
 3. A bolster as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the first and second end frame members comprises first and second leg portions and a top portion connecting the first and second leg portions opposite the base.
 4. A bolster as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cover comprises first and second end margins, the first end margin being secured to the first end frame member along the first leg, top, and second leg portions thereof and the second end margin being secured to the second end frame member along the first leg, top, and second leg portions thereof.
 5. A bolster as set forth in claim 4 wherein a length of the cover extending between the first and second end margins thereof is stretched along a longitudinal axis of the cover between the first and second end frame members.
 6. A bolster as set forth in claim 3 wherein the base comprises first and second base frame members, the first base frame member extending between the first and second end frame members adjacent the respective first leg portions thereof and the second base frame member extending between the first and second frame members adjacent the respective second leg portions thereof.
 7. A bolster as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cover comprises first and second longitudinal edge margins, the first longitudinal edge margin being secured to the first base frame member and the second longitudinal edge margin being secured to the first longitudinal end margin.
 8. A bolster as set forth in claim 7 wherein a width of the cover extending between the first and second end margins thereof is stretched along a lateral axis of the cover when the cover is secured to the frame.
 9. A bolster as set forth in claim 2 wherein the blower comprises a first fan mounted on the base adjacent the first end frame member.
 10. A bolster as set forth in claim 9 wherein the bolster further comprises a second fan mounted on the base adjacent the second end frame member.
 11. A bolster as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the first and second fans comprises an air intake grate defining at least a portion of a respective one of the opposite longitudinal ends of the bolster.
 12. A bolster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame is substantially rigid.
 13. A bolster as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first portion of the cover comprises open mesh.
 14. A bolster as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first portion of the cover defines the support surface.
 15. A bolster as set forth in claim 14 wherein a second portion of the cover comprises non-porous fabric.
 16. A bolster as set forth in claim 15 wherein said second portion of the cover connects said first portion of the cover to the frame.
 17. A bolster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blower comprises a first fan mounted on the frame adjacent one longitudinal end of the bolster and the bolster further comprises a second fan mounted on the frame adjacent an opposite longitudinal end of the bolster.
 18. A bolster as set forth in claim 17 wherein the first and second fans are configured and arranged to blow air through the bolster interior in generally opposing directions.
 19. A bolster as set forth in claim 18 wherein the fabric extends generally along a longitudinal axis of the bolster and the first and second fans are configured and arranged to blow air through the bolster interior generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 20. A bolster as set forth in claim 19 wherein blown air from the first blower and blown air from the second blower mix in a longitudinally central portion of the bolster interior to create turbulent air flow in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 